On the heels of a recent announcement unveiling an official app on Xbox One – the first for an open-wheel racing series – Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires today announced it is entering the gaming world with a new arcade-style game available for free download to mobile devices via the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

The Mazda Road to Indy game features the Soul Red Mazda Indy Lights car as the designated "ride," and players compete against other Indy Lights cars to win the race and unlock more racetracks. There are a total of eight levels in the game currently, and players can pick up speed boosters and turbo recharge coins along the way to assist in their progression. Players can also challenge their friends and easily share high scores on social media.

The game was developed by JP Manterola, Pro Racing Group CEO and Executive Director of Mazda Road to Indy TV, and his team. It provides a fun and fast-paced experience targeting the 8 to 14 age bracket. A landing page promoting the game came be found at http://game.roadtoindy.tv/

"The release of this game is a way for us to reach, cultivate and educate a much younger audience," said Manterola. "We currently have a product that correlates with each generation, but we were missing a hook for the younger kids to get involved with the Mazda Road to Indy. Our vision has always been to develop a digital infrastructure capable of sharing and supporting the ladder system. We don't want to just communicate information. We want to entertain our audience, including those as young as 8 or 9 years old. They are the future fans, the ones that one day will be at the Indy 500. We believe that a game like this is a way to gain their attention at a young age and create new race fans."

The Mazda Road to Indy game is the latest addition to a series of platforms designed to promote the unique and highly successful three-tier driver development ladder including Road to Indy TV – which returns for its fourth season of providing behind-the-scenes content – the Road to Indy TV App, a dedicated broadcast channel on demand via Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku and, most recently, the Xbox One Official App.

"We are constantly striving to find non-traditional ways to promote the great racing, competitors and partners we have in the Mazda Road to Indy," said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. "JP and his team do an excellent job of thinking outside the box, and this game is another perfect example. Hopefully, not only will people enjoy playing the game but it will attract more fans to our sport."

The Mazda Road to Indy game will also be featured as a challenge in the Cooper Tires/Mazda Hashtag Program that encourages drivers and teams to utilize the #MRTI and #TeamCooperTire hashtags through their social messaging on Twitter and Instagram. Launched in 2014, the social media program has seen its highest participation numbers to date this season.

The full Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires contingent – the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires – are in action today and tomorrow at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix circuit.